In episode 3 of Polar Diaries, we are joined by Professor Richard Phillips who is the leader of the Higher Predators and Conservation group within the British Antarctic Survey Core Science Ecosystems programme. Much of Richard's work focuses on the evolutionary ecology and population demographics of seabirds including albatrosses, petrels, and skuas. Richard tells us about a recent project, ‘albatrosses from space’, where satellite images and citizen scientists were used to monitor the population sizes of Wandering and Tristan albatrosses at remote islands around the Southern Ocean. Richard tells us about how he fits trackers to enormous Antarctic albatrosses, how infrasound might be used by seabirds as a cue for migration, and how researchers can use the stomach oil deposits from snow petrels to analyse their diet and past sea-ice environments. We also discuss Richard's recent Polar Medal win and his brief meeting with King Charles. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your travels to the frozen regions of the world!

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Learn more about Richard and his work:

https://www.bas.ac.uk/profile/raphil/

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